Stories
Without Immigrants, Dairy States Would Suffer
In Shelly Mayer’s view, the United States isn’t facing an immigrant labor shortage but a rural labor shortage. Specifically, a farm labor shortage. Mayer is the executive director of the Professional Dairy Producers® (PDPW), a national development organization for dairy professionals. She sees the labor shortage problem close up, and it’s nationwide. “We have fewer farms,… Read More
Immigration Policy Needs to Support American Farms, Says Iowan
When the government makes it difficult for immigrants to come to the United States, “we’re shooting ourselves in the foot,” says John Weber, an Iowa farmer and past president of the National Pork Producers Council. His farm, Valley Lane Farms Inc., in Dysart, Iowa, produces 2,400 acres of feed corn… Read More
To Grow US. Apples, America’s Farmers Need Immigration Reform
In 2011, third-generation apple farmer Phil Glaize, drove up and down the eastern seaboard searching for farm workers. He had made a point of only hiring Americans to work his 650-acre farm, which produces roughly $5.5 million in revenue annually. But as the economy improved after the recession, he found… Read More
Pakistani Aid Worker is Citizen of the World but Calls Oregon Home
When Amarah Khan arrived at the Houston airport from Pakistan as a fresh-faced 23-year-old student, immigration officials detained and questioned her for five hours, she says. “You can imagine what a rude awakening this was for me. This was my first time on a plane, and I thought I was… Read More
No Field Workers Means No Food — and No Food Security, Says Agriculture Exec
In 45 years in the agriculture business, Frank Gasperini, former CEO of the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE), has seen the phenomenon time and again: U.S. farms scrapping crops because they don’t have enough workers for harvest. “When farmers realize their labor is going to be really late, they’ll… Read More
Immigrant STEM Students the ‘Lifeblood of American Research,’ Says University President
Harris Pastides, president of the University of South Carolina (USC), says immigration reform is key to the future of the United States. The son of Greek-Cypriot immigrants — those hailing from the island of Cyprus —Pastides grew up in New York State and learned about citizenship from his immigrant parents,,… Read More
Innovative Pastor Helps Refugees Help the U.S. Economy
This year, former pastor Leah Lonsbury opened Just Bakery, an Atlanta nonprofit that provides job training, food service certification, and a living wage for resettled refugees. Lonsbury isn’t the first to turn to baking to make change. She used to live in Madison, Wisconsin, where a good friend runs… Read More
After Seven Generations, NC Farm Crippled by Migrant Labor Shortage
Kirby Johnson’s family has been farming in Henderson County, in southwest North Carolina, for seven generations. “All I’ve ever done is farm, and my daddy before me, and my grandfather before him,” he says. In addition to running his own 600-acre farm, Johnson helps manage another of… Read More
U.S. Lacks Computer Workers to Help Entrepreneur Expand U.S. Business
When Indian immigrant Sameer Penakalapati started Avani Technology Solutions in 2010, the Rochester-based business had two employees and revenues of $300,000. Since then, the company, which provides information technology services, has soared. It now has $50 million in annual revenue and 520 American employees in eight cities across the country. Read More
Head of Hispanic Leadership Council Makes Economic Case for Reform
Greg Torrales first moved to South Carolina in 2007 to work as a translator and help immigrants navigate the healthcare industry. Today he is the director of the South Carolina Hispanic Leadership Council (SCHLC), which provides social services for the state’s Hispanic residents. “Before I moved to South Carolina, I… Read More
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